[4everaspirit]

It's cold and flu season!! Yippee! (not really @[email protected])

So, what do you guys do when you have a sick day?

Are there any vegan remedies that will help a sore throat or stuffy nose? What kinds of foods do you eat when you are sick? (I'd go for Amy's No chicken noodle soup

)

 

[AnneMaria]

I always eat garlic - I've found it can kill pretty much any cold! Whenever I start feeling cold symptoms, I pretty much stuff my face with raw garlic.

I either chop the cloves into pill-size pieces and swallow them with water, or I crush it and mix with honey (I'm not vegan, as you might've guessed, so if you don't eat honey, syrup would work just fine). Basically, the more garlic the better. And it should be raw - "cheating" by eating food with lots of garlic won't work as well.

 

[4everaspirit]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnneMaria

I always eat garlic - I've found it can kill pretty much any cold! Whenever I start feeling cold symptoms, I pretty much stuff my face with raw garlic.

I either chop the cloves into pill-size pieces and swallow them with water, or I crush it and mix with honey (I'm not vegan, as you might've guessed, so if you don't eat honey, syrup would work just fine). Basically, the more garlic the better. And it should be raw - "cheating" by eating food with lots of garlic won't work as well.

Wow, never hear dof that o__O Did it actually prevent the cold from happening as soon as you started to feel the symptoms? I might need to try that.

 

[Breezydreams]

Love garlic too, but for me it's not enough to prevent the colds or flu.
Aside from washing my hands regularly and trying to not touch my face, I take Echinacea either when I start to feel a little anything slightly symptomatic and "pre-empt" by taking some before I go into public places where people sneeze and cough alot, which is most places.
If/When I do get symptoms, this recipe from an old woman at the Indian Grocery store, kept my young child and I out of the hospital when we were so congested the doctors wanted to admit us both. Take red lentils, wash repeatedly, then cook until they are tender, using only salt and black pepper. No spices, no onions, no garlic, veggies or anything else. Make a huge batch and drink the broth at least 4 big cups a day. The soup/lentils taste really nice too. Oh, yeah I do add American grown Saffron to keep the gassiness away.
It's amazing. We took that soup for 4 days, returned to the hospital for unrelated tests and the doctors thought I agreed to take the prescription they recommended for congestion. Ha-Ha! No need.
Keep well.
The other thing I noticed worked before, but I slacked off recently, was when I consistently exercised 1 1/2 hours day weekdays, including walking, a little aerobics, a little rowing. I was around obnoxious people who coughed and sneezed without covering up and did not catch anything.
Of course a vegan diet too.
Hoping we all avoid or minimize the flu and cold.
Cheers

 

[Thorham]

I use nothing to remedy colds and the flu, and I also eat what I normally eat. For me there's no need to do anything special.

 

[Almeria]

When I get a cold or a flu I just eat foods high in vitamin C. I don't really eat much when I'm sick and from what I understand vitamin C is great for boosting the immune system and fighting off viruses so I just go for things high in that and of course greens. Green smoothies with oranges or fruits plus greens sauteed in water with garlic and lemon or lime juice. I will take ibuprofen because it helps with inflammation and I have problems with that due to a genetic health problem and due to the same problem I also have problems with my body not being able to cool down properly so high fevers can kill me (and I'm talking 102 or 103 degrees is high for me, my body temp runs at 95/96 degrees). Otherwise I do not take any meds or supplements.

 

[Identity_thief]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thorham

I use nothing to remedy colds and the flu, and I also eat what I normally eat. For me there's no need to do anything special.

Yeah same. My diet is healthy and high in things like vitamin C anyway. You can't cure a cold, most medicines are just pain killers, caffeine, etc, or sugar syrup for cough medicines. If it's more serious tthan a cold I'll use the appropriate medicine.

The one thing I do do, is rest where I can. I have a lot of friends who get colds, keep working really hard as per usual, and it hangs around for weeks and weeks or even develops into chest infections/etc which go on for a long time. I think it's more productive to rest in the short term, get enough sleep, and give your body the best chance at recovering as quick as possible.

 

[AnneMaria]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4everaspirit

Wow, never hear dof that o__O Did it actually prevent the cold from happening as soon as you started to feel the symptoms? I might need to try that.

Yeah, pretty much.

I mean, of course all colds are different, so it might not work as effectively on every cold. I haven't had the flu for three years and back then I didn't know about the garlic trick, so I don't know how well it works on flus, but I imagine it would help.

 

[Josh James xVx]

I usually get a little sick once or twice during the flu season. It doesn't seem to affect me as it does the people around me. I think my immune system is stronger or something. I just let it run its course unless the symptoms are really irritating, then I'll use some kind of over the counter thing to ease the symptoms. I never miss work due to being sick or anything.

 

[janetc]

I have been pretty lucky: I haven't been sick for years.

 

[ElaineV]

I actually have a cold right now. I stayed home today because I'm probably contagious and because my son is sick so I have to care for him (he's why I got sick!) but I don't feel so I'll I have to stay home; it's more out of concern for the wellbeing of others.

Here's what I do for colds and flu:
- even though it's not technically vegan we get the flu shots
- use generic medicines whenever possible (thus not supporting animal testing)
- saline spray for congested nose
- salt water gargle for sore throat
- lots of liquids (water, tea, fortified nut milks, soups) to stay hydrated
- rest and good hygiene (example: change toothbrush after cold has passed to prevent reinfection in case it's bacterial)
- and of course, if it lasts too long or gets too bad we go to the doctor

 

[PTree15]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Identity_thief

Yeah same. My diet is healthy and high in things like vitamin C anyway. You can't cure a cold, most medicines are just pain killers, caffeine, etc, or sugar syrup for cough medicines. If it's more serious tthan a cold I'll use the appropriate medicine.

The one thing I do do, is rest where I can. I have a lot of friends who get colds, keep working really hard as per usual, and it hangs around for weeks and weeks or even develops into chest infections/etc which go on for a long time. I think it's more productive to rest in the short term, get enough sleep, and give your body the best chance at recovering as quick as possible.

I so agree. Rest is so underrated and really helps lessen the effects of a cold. I also make sure I drink plenty of fluids, like water and tea. That always seems to help in addition to the rest.

 

[4everaspirit]

Everyone had some interesting input

@Elaine, gargling with salt water? bleh, it tasted so nasty and made my throat feel worse haha but a lot of people tend to swear by it haha xD >.>

 

[Nishani]

It's not uncommon for vegans to be low in zinc. A course before you get a cold is best. I rarely get a cold now.

 

[azusapriss]

Haven't been sick for a while..
But normally as soon as I feel any minor symptoms, like a dry, or itching throat, I do baking soda gargles.
My last cold was November, 2010, and I did the gargles, plenty of resting, lots of vitamin c foods, ginger/lemon teas, when I had a blocked nose I did eucalyptus oil inhalations, went away pretty quickly.
I avoid any medicines, they only suppress the symptoms and with it yours body capacity of fighting by itself.

 

[vincent]

I just tough it out, and let my immune system cope with it, even though i rarely get colds.

 

[David Hereaux]

I haven't been sick from any cold or flu since I quit eating meat. I was just searching the net to see if vegans even catch colds, and came across this.

 

[David Hereaux]

Maybe it's the garlic that has been keeping me safe from colds. I eat it on almost all of my dinners, I don't think I used it much before I quit meat products.

 

[Kale Dog]

Drink Peppermint tea for some relief, add in Willow Bark Extract for a natural aspirin effect and Ginger Tea is a nice thing to add in.

These will keep you hydrated but you still need to drink plenty of h2o

 

[Auxin]

In stores, usually on the spice aisle, you can often find crystallized ginger. Basically dried ginger preserved with sugar.

Keeping a couple strips with you can be useful. If nausea strikes, chewing up and swallowing a strip of crystallized ginger can be quite effective at making you feel better.

The taste is kind of full-on but before long it becomes tempting to eat it as candy.

[Insert obvious warning for diabetics]